Device for correcting deformities of the feet.



v A. A. s. BURNS. DEVICE FOR CORRECTING DEFORMITIES OF THE FEET.

APPLICATION, FILED OCT-2i, I915- Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

ANDREW A. s. minus, or MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.

DEVICE FOR CORRECTING DEFORMITIES OF THE To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ANDREW AR'rnUR Six-miner Brlnvs, a subject of the King of Great Britain, 'residing in the city of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Correcting De formities of the Feet, and I do hereby declare. that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates more particularly to devices for the correction of deformities of the arch of the foot, and it has for its object to provide a. support which can be readily made to conform to the affected part and retain the form.

To this end the invention may be said to consist of a strip of vuleanite attached to a sheet of flexible material such as wire gauze, or used alone, the vulcanite being preferably in the form of a. comparatively thin sheet and the gauze being of relative rigidity in comparison with the less rigid vplcanite. Satisfactory results may be obta ned by holding the strip to a. form during vulcanization. Another method is to vulcanize the strip before forming it then when about to be used heat it thereby softening it and then form it while soft, and finally allow it to cool and reharden.

My improved device may be used as acombined arch support and stifiener for the shank of a shoe or it may be incorporated in a bamlage,'stocking orsock for use as an arch support only.

For full comprehension, however, of my invention reference must be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which similar reference characters indicate the same parts, and wherein:

Figure l is a plan view of the sole of a shoe with my improved device in use. as a combined arch support and shank s'tilfener;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View taken on line A B Fig. l;

Fi 3 is a side elevation of an ankle band-' a 1 a l age having my improved device 1I1COIpO-.

rated therein and serving as an arch support only. i

Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of a portion of an ankle bandage with my improved device incorporated therein.

In carrying out my invention I press substantially pure unvulcanized rubber it through the gauze 3 in such a Way that ii". will present at either side thereof a, film-like Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 21, 1915. Serial No. 57,217.

coating preferably covering suilicient only of the gauze to present a combined shank-stiffener 5 and arch support (3 or either one. The article thus produced is then vulcanized.

\Vhen in use as a combined shank-stiffener and arch support as illustrated in Figs. 1 and '3 the gauze is extended to the. edges of the shoe and stitched thereto, an insole being placed in the shoe over thestifl'ener and support. lVhen in use as an arch support only it is attached to a bandage, stocking or seek as illustrated in Figs. 3; and t and is provided with a lateral convex portion 6 adapted to fit the arch of the foot.

Articles of this nature may be manufactured individually or in a large sheet containing a plurality of the arch supports, the sheet being subsequently divided into the individual devices of suitable dimensions to be incorporated in the shank and arch-portion or either one alone, of a boot, shoe or other article of footwear.

In order to obtain the best results my improved stitfener is manufactured as follows:

A comparatively large sheet of gauze of relative rigidity has placed upon its opposite sides a number of pairs of thin pieces of crude rubber of the {shape required for individual or combined shank-stitfeners and arch supports. The corresponding sides of the pieces of each pair are then treated with cement or otherwise to impart a local viscous nature, and they are located in proper positions to cause those of each pair to register, and suitably spaced to permit the sheet to be divided and allow a sufiicient margin of gauze to each rubber member for it to be stitched or otherwise fastened in place. This sheet isthen passed between calender rolls'or otherwise subjected to a sufficient degree of heat and pressure to cause the rubber to enter from opposite sides into inter stices of the gauze and become. merged in a.

single sheet, with the gauze embedded in it. 100 v ,The large sheet thus produced is then vul- The advantageof my vulcanite shankstiffener or arch support is that it possesses the qualities'of both support and cushion,

the gauze being of just sul'licient rigidity to prevent the vulcanite' collapsing. With the metal devices heretofore used, however thin and resilient they were made and suitable for-practical use, the inherent hardness rendered them harsh. and abrasive with conse quent injuryto the 'foot of the wearer.

Another advantage is" found in the methodby which I produce my stiffener and sup-- ]port; Thefact thatithe deviceis vulcanite" permits of; its being manufactured by rubber factories in large quantities for the .foot' wear trade, and formed to meet the specific needs of the different cases of deformity of the shank or arch by the footwear ti'ader who heats and thereby softens it and forms it upon a last o f-the customer-Es deformed -foot, then when sufiiciently cooled and re-j two witnesses.

tening it in place and. ofi'ering no obstruction to the stitching.

What I claim is as' followsz 1. The combina-tionwith the shank of a shoe, of a;vu1canite arch-support, and means for attaching the same to the shoe, such means consisting of wire gauze incorporated with the support.

2. An orthopedic vulcanite arch-support consisting of a sheet of wire-gauze and layers of vul'canite on' opposite sides of said -gauze. I v In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the p'resenceof ANDREW A.'S-. BURNS.

Witnesses: v v WILLIA HEWETSON, Gonnon G. Coons. 

